Basket



(No Model.)

J. H. MARVIL.

BASKET. No. 273,864. Patented Mar. 13,1883.

jnveiz ior Jskuw 1i Marl/oz NITED TATES FFIQ r ATENT BASKET.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,864, dated March 13, 1888. Application filed February 9, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA H. MARVIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Laurel, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to baskets for fruit, vegetables, truck, or the like; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set i'orth,and specificallypointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a fruit or other basket which shall be simple and cheap ot'construction, durable, and efiicient in service, and the essential features are comprised of a spring-bottom applied to the frame thereof.

The invention is fully illustrated in and will be readily understood by referring to the aocompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a basket made in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2, a detail view of one of the splints which form the bottom. Fig. 3 represents a detailed view of modification in the form of said splints, and Fig. 4 aseciional detail view.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates the upright staves, curved more or less, shown, to form the basket with a flaring month, said staves being secured at the top bet-ween hoops B Bby nails or otherwise, to form ventilating-interstices b between, and at the bottom between hoops G U, in a similar manner, a hoop, D, being secured near the center upon the outside. The inner bottom hoop, O, serves as a support for a springbottoin. composed of one or more splints, E, having formed upon ends or edges projecting nibs or tenons e, which areadapted to be sprung into holes, slots, or mortises f, formed in the staves. The said tenons e serve to hold the bottom from turning or displacement, while the inner bottom hoop supports the splints E, the bearing-ends of which are shaped to conform with the outline made by the inner surface at that point.

The basket is preferably made of splints of wood secured by brads; but it is evident that some ofits parts, or all, may be made of metal, if preferred. As shown, the basket is round; but it may be made rectangular or polygonal,

if desired, without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which lie in the construction of the bottom and in the manner of its application to the frame. As shown, the bottom is made of two or more splints crossing each other at desired angles to accommodate the articles to be contained in the basket. Each of these splints may have one or more tenons, e, and each stave may have a mortise. The bottom, in rectangular or square baskets, may be made of a single piece, with a proper number of tenons on the ends or sides, or both.

The splints E and staves A, whether made of wood or metal, may be readily cut into shape by dies or other proper machinery, and

to place the bottom in position it is only necessary to spring the bottom splint or splints until the tenons e may be inserted in the mortise f. The strain then being released, the splint or splints will assume their proper position, and when the weight of the contained fruit or the like is removed they will spring back promptly into their normal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim i,s

1. A fruit or vegetable basket having perforated staves and an inner supporting hoop, combined with a spring-bottom having tenons adapted to be sprung into the perforations in such staves, as set forth.

2. A fruit or vegetable basket having upright staves provided with mortises near their lower extremities. an internal bottom hoop to support a spring-bottom, and having its bottom formed of tenoned splints, arranged to cross each other at proper angles, and to be sprung into position, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the frame composed of the staves A. having mortises f. and secured by hoops B B D and O O, with the bottom formed of splints E, having tenons e, andthe whole adapted to serve as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSHUA H. \IARVIL.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. RALPH, HARVEY F. MARVIL. 

